Designates water development representatives for each environmental region of the state

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick and 5 co-sponsors

S. 4995 would designate a water development representative for each environmental region to boost regional coordination with state agencies on water development and planning.

REFERRED TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

Overview

S. 4995 would designate a water development representative for each environmental region of the state. The bill is currently under consideration in the Senate, having been introduced on February 14, 2025, and referred to the Environmental Conservation Committee. It has advanced through Senate passage and has been delivered to the Assembly with a concurrent referral to Environmental Conservation.

Primary sponsor: Pete Harckham

Notable cosponsors: Mario Mattera, William Weber, Rachel May, Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick, Pamela Helming

Related companion bills: A 6665 (Assembly), S 4814 (prior session)

What the bill would do

Establishment: The bill designates a water development representative for each environmental region of the state.

Purpose (inferred): To provide regional representation and oversight for water development matters, improving coordination between regional stakeholders and state agencies in environmental and water-resource planning.

Details not provided in the summary: The specific duties, appointment processes, terms of office, qualifications, funding, reporting requirements, and any enforcement or governance mechanisms would be defined in the bill’s text. The summary available here notes only the designation of regional representatives.

Who would be affected

State government: Agencies involved in water resource management and environmental conservation would be affected by the creation of regional water development representatives and any associated duties or reporting lines.

Environmental regions: Each region would have a dedicated representative, presumably impacting regional planning, stakeholder engagement, and coordination on water development projects.

External stakeholders: Utilities, municipalities, watershed groups, environmental organizations, and landowners could interact with regional representatives as part of water-development decision processes.

Legislative timeline and process

2025-02-14: Referred to Environmental Conservation (initial referral)

2025-03-11 to 2025-03-13: Progressed through first/second/third readings and committee reviews (per the legislative actions provided)

2025-04-03: Passed the Senate (twice listed) and delivered to the Assembly

2025-04-03: Referred to Environmental Conservation in the Assembly (as part of the standard flow for a bill moving between houses)

Related considerations

Related bills include S 4814 (prior-session) and Assembly companion A 6665, indicating a broader or ongoing interest in restructuring or clarifying water-development governance and regional representation.

If enacted, the bill would likely prompt updates to agency workflows, regional outreach, and potential implementation timelines for appointing regional representatives.

Bottom line

S. 4995 aims to formalize regional leadership for water development by designating a dedicated representative in each environmental region. The measure would shape regional governance, coordination with state environmental agencies, and stakeholder engagement, subject to the bill’s defined duties and implementation details in the full text.

Bill